Keyboard steadying device for accordions and similar instruments



y 1 959 A. MONTENARE 2,884,828

KEYBOARD STEADYING DEVICE FOR ACCORDIONS AND SIMILAR INSTRUMENTS Original Filed April 10, 1952 .l l & 6 n .1M I null- I 1 N VENTOR ANTHONY MONTENARE ATTORNEYS United States Patent KEYBOARD STEADYING DEVICE FOR ACCOR- DIONS AND SIMILAR INSTRUMENTS Anthony Montenare, Reading, Pa.

Original application April 10, 1952, Serial No. 281,509, now Patent No. 2,663,210, dated December 22, 1953. Divided and this application December 22, 1953, Serial No. 399,679

3 Claims. (Cl. 84-327) This invention relates to a device in the nature of an attachment for steadying during playing accordions, '-concertinas and other similar instruments employing bellows.

An object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a steadying device during the playing of accordions, concertinas and similar instruments.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a device of the type described which may be readily attached to or detached from such instruments.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the kind described in which the steadying element thereof may be folded against one side of the instrument when the instrument is not being used.

Other objects will appear hereinafter throughout the specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of one form of the device as applied to an accordion or concertina, one side of which has been partly broken away;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a slightly modified structure;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the attachment removed from its retaining bracket;

Figure 4 is a sectional view on line 44 of the structure shown in Figure 1, partly broken away;

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figures 1 and 2 of a third form of the invention;

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the structure shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of a fourth form of the invention; and

Figure 8 is a section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig ure 7.

The present invention is in the nature of an attachment for existing accordions, concertinas and similar instruments, but, of course, it may be built into the cabinet of the instrument during the manufacture thereof. It has required a great deal of practice heretofore to maintain the keyboard in substantially one position so as to operate the keyboard with one hand while, at the same time, operating the bellows mechanism with the other hand. As is well known, an accordion player must very quickly reverse the movement of the left arm while at the same time operating the keyboard with the right hand. In so doing, the right arm and the right knee of the player form substantially the sole means for steadying the keyboard. The instrument is usually rested upon the right knee, and the right arm is used to maintain the instrument in this position. However, the quick reversals which are necessary in obtaining the requisite amount of wind to operate the instrument at times cause the operator to shift the keyboard, making it difiicult to find and operate the proper keys during the playing of the instrument. The present invention overcomes this difl'iculty and insures the proper positioning of the keyboard at all times, leaving the right arm, and especially the hand, of the operator free to operate the keyboard.

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Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, the accordion or concertina is indicated by the letter A. The back of the keyboard of this instrument is shown at 1, and the bellows is indicated at 2. Attached by screws or similar means not shown is a bracket 4 consisting of a back portion 5 and inturned flanges 6 and 7. The lower ends of these flanges terminate in inclined portions 8 and 9. The tongue 11 has an end 12 provided with a downwardly projecting nose 13 and a cylindrical end or housing 14 for housing the upper portion 15 of the U-shaped member 10. This upper portion is prevented from rotation when the parts are located as shown in Figures 1, 3, and 4 due to the fact that the cylindrical housing is wider at the top as seen in Figure 1 and tightly frictionally engages the upper portion 15.

In the structure shown in- Figure 2, the elements are substantially the same as those shown in Figure 1, except that the U-shaped member 16 is not tightly or frictionally held by the cylindrical end 17 of the tongue 18, and it does not have a wider upper end. Moreover, the bracket 19 is provided with inturned flanges 20 and 21, whose lower ends 22 and 23, respectively, are cut higher so as to allow pivotal movement of the U-shaped member 16. This permits free turning movement of the U-shaped member to the position shown in Figure 2.

The construction shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 occupies a minimum of space and may be readily attached to the under side of an accordion. With the arms 16 in their folded position, as seen in Figure 2, the accordion may be placed in its case without removal from the bracket 19 and the steadying arms pivoted thereto. It will be particularly noted that these steadying arms are preferably of curved construction so as to lie closely against the under side of the accordion when in their folded position. When they are in their unfolded position, these arms will engage on opposite sides of the knee of the accordion player and serve to steady the instrument, particularly during the operation of the bellows thereof.

In the third form of the invention, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the letter B indicates the accordion or concertina having keyboard back 30 and a bellows 31. The under side of the casing 32 is provided with a housing 33, which is attached by suitable means, such as screws 34, to the casing. This housing has at its opposite ends pivots 35 and 36 for pivotally supporting the steadying arms 37 and 38. When these arms are fully extended, as shown in their dotted line position in Figure 5, they are in their operative position whereby the instrument will be steadied during playing. When in their inoperative, folded position, shown in full lines in Figures 5 and 6, the instrument may be deposited in its case.

In the fourth form of the invention shown in Figures 7 and 8, the instrument as a whole is indicated by the letter C. This instrument is provided with a keyboard back 40 to which is attached by screws 41 a plate 42. The accordion is provided with hinges 44 and 45 for supporting pivoted arms 46 and 47. Figure 7 shows one of these arms 46 in its folded position, and in this position it occupies a depression 48 in the plate 42. The other arm 47 is shown in a full line position. When folded, it likewise will occupy a position in its depression 49 opposite to its companion arm 46. When the arms 46 and 47 are in their operative positions, the arm 46 is as shown in dotted lines and the arm 47 is as shown in full lines in Figure 7.

This application is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 281,509, filed April 10, 1952, now Patent No. 2,663,210.

In order to facilitate an understanding of the invention, reference has been made to the several embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and specific language has been employed. It will, nevertheless, be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby contemplated and that various alterations and modifications may be made such as would occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

I claim:

1. A support for anaccordion and the like comprising a bracket attached to the accordion, said bracket having a plate portion and inturned flanges, a tongue in engagement with said plate and having edge portions embraced by said flanges, :said tongue having a retaining nose on one end in engagement with said plate and a cylindrical housing on the opposite end of said tongue, a U-shaped leg engageable member having a mid portion in said cylindrical housing.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said flanges are provided with inclined portions for engagement with said U-shaped leg.

4 3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said flanges are provided with inclined portions at their ends, for engagement by said cylindrical housing and U-shaped leg.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 457,707 Durner Aug. 11,1891 462,914 Pilkington Nov. 10, 1891 790,223 Nichols May 16, 1905 932,844 Beisheim Aug. 31, 1909 1,199,685 Gaylord -Sept. 26, 1916 2,007,709 Eppens July 9, 1936 2,532,162 Goss Nov. 28, 1950 2,663,210 Montenare Dec. 22, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 515,159 Germany Dec. 24, 1930 677,366 Germany June 23, 1939 817,989 Germany Oct. 22, 1951 422,696

Italy June 23, 1947 

